BRITISH HONDURAS. 165 



The average annual exports, as far as the data are avail- 

 able, show the followino; items : — 



Total .... 3-2,000 263,000 



These exports represent some 90 to 95 per cent, of the total 

 exports of the colony ; hence it is of paramount importance 

 to secure a continuance of this valuable item of export. Eubbei 

 of the average annual value of ^82,637 was also exported. 



In 1885, Mr. E. Hooper, of the Indian Forest Service, was 

 deputed to British Honduras to report on the forests. He 

 states the following : — 



" It is a prevailing belief in the colony that the supply of 

 mahogany is not being reduced. No doubt, there is a large 

 amount still standing, but it is so far from the seaboard that 

 it is, under existing conditions of transport, practically value- 

 less. Large trees are now generally found only far up the 

 rivers, while the accessible forests yield chiefly small timber 

 down to ten inches square. All this indicates that the supply 

 of good sized mahogany will fall off, and it is questionable 

 whether the export of it will continue to be an important 

 factor in the progress of the colony. Certain rules have been 

 passed to prevent the cutting of undersized trees (15 inches 

 and under), but it appeared that great laxity prevailed in 

 checking the cutting of undersized mahogany." 



So far Mr. Hooper. Unfortunately no information is 

 available to show, whether, or to what extent, matters have 

 improved since Mr. Hooper's visit. It may, however, be said 

 that, if ever a case was made out for the preservation and 

 careful management of the forests of any colony, it is for 

 those of British Honduras. To allow matters to go on, as at 

 the time of Mr. Hooper's visit, would mean the destruction of 

 the bulk of the exports of the colony. In the author's 



